CSU Biennial Alcohol Policy Report: 2013-2015
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State)
Dr. Frank Lamas,
Vice President for Student Affairs
Introduction
During the past two years, California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) has continued its efforts to implement
the CSU Alcohol policy through its Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Safety Council (ATODSC) and the Student Health &
Counseling Center. The ATOD Safety Council is made up of campus and community representatives who provide
leadership to all phases of the campus alcohol, tobacco and other drug use prevention program. During this time, the
Council witnessed a change in leadership with the retirement of Dr. Paul Oliaro, Vice President of Student Affairs who
served as Chair. While the mission statement and learning outcomes of the ATOD Safety Council stayed the same, a
steering committee was formed to review the structure of the Council. The Council is now co-chaired by Kathy Yarmo
from Fresno State’s Student Health & Counseling Center and Christine Weldon with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Fresno
District Office. This co-chairpersonship is a unique campus and community partnership.
Aside from some grant assistance, the majority of financial support has come from the Office of the Vice President for
Student Affairs as well as the Student Health & Counseling Center.
This Biennial Alcohol Policy Report is organized as follows:
I.
Summary of Alcohol and Drug Education Related Grants Received by California State University, Fresno
II.
Successful Program Implemented Over the Past Two Years
III.
A Summary Campus Activities Related to Tobacco Use
IV.
A Summary Campus Activities Related to Prescription Drug Use
V.
Assessment Activity
VI.
Highlights of Other Special and Unique Programs
I.
Summary of Alcohol and Drug Education Related Grants Received by California State University,
Fresno
Agency Issuing Grant
Anheuser Busch
Foundation/National Social
Norms Institute at University
of Virginia
California Health
Collaborative
Fresno State InstructionallyRelated Activities (IRA)
Fresno State InstructionallyRelated Activities (IRA)
Fresno State Parents
Association
Fresno State InstructionallyRelated Activities (IRA)
Fresno State InstructionallyRelated Activities (IRA)
Purpose
To implement the eCHECKUP TO GO survey for all
incoming freshmen and transfer students during the
summer of 2013
For the Drug & Alcohol Awareness & Wellness Guides
to conduct a video contest among Fresno State
students to produce a home-made video on alcohol
safety
To send 25 Fresno State student representatives to
the 2013 Annual Higher Education Alcohol and Other
Drugs Conference hosted by CSU Chico
To send 25 Fresno State student representatives to
the 2014 Alcohol and Other Drug Education
Conference for Institutions of Higher Learning hosted
by CSU Channel Islands
To cover the cost of CPR certification for 95 students
taking the WATCHDOG trainings conducted in the
Spring 2014 semester.
To cover the cost of CPR certification for 200 students
taking the WATCHDOG trainings conducted in the Fall
2014 and Spring 2015 semesters.
To send 25 Fresno State student representatives to
the 2014 Alcohol and Other Drug Education
Conference for Institutions of Higher Learning hosted
by CSU Monterey Bay and Humboldt
Year
2013
Amount
$2,200
2013-2014
$2,975
2013
$4,471
2014
$5,000
2014
$3,000
2014-2015
$7,000
2015
$5,000
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II.

III.

Successful Program Implemented Over the Past Two Years
WATCHDOG, Student Health & Counseling Center
o This alcohol overdose intervention education program was developed in spring and summer of 2013 after
much research into existing programs across the country including, but not limited to, the Red Watch Band
program out of Northwestern University. This program consists of a one-day training that is comprehensive
and skills-based, providing students with hands-on experience in dealing with alcohol emergencies. The goal
of the training is to reduce drinking death due on and around campus. Students are educated on the dangers
of alcohol overdose and provided with the skills, tools, and prevention strategies necessary to take action and
intervene to save a life. The training covers various topics including the bystander effect, alcohol’s effect on
the body, symptom identification, step by step intervention procedures, how to make a 911 call, what to
expect from emergency personnel, and CPR certification training. Trainings attract a diverse group of
students from all class levels and majors, including many student leaders. Since the program’s inception,
eleven trainings have been offered and a total of two hundred students have been trained, including
forty-four Greek Life students, fourteen student athletes, and eighty-two student club/organization members.
Knowledge was assessed at training’s end and in a follow-up at the end of the semester. Overall, 93% of
trainees correctly identified the signs of alcohol overdose and 94% correctly identified at least three safe
drinking behaviors, a preventive strategy.
o This program has been nominated for a NASPA Excellence Award.
o Here is an example of a Collegian (Fresno State school newspaper) article that acknowledges the students
who were in attendance at the trainings in the Fall 2014 semester.
A Summary of Campus Activities Related to Tobacco Use
Fresno State’s Smoke-free Campus Policy was written in 2003. The policy remained in effect during the 2013-15
academic years.
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
A clinical psychologist continued to offer one-on-one smoking cessation to Fresno State students interested in quitting
smoking.

Based on a total of 763 students randomly selected who participated in the National College Health Assessment in the
Spring of 2013, the following statistics were identified: 81% of Fresno State students have never used cigarettes (up
from 75% as reported in 2011) and 95% Fresno State students have never smoked or haven’t smoked in the last 30
days (higher than the 2011 data)

Project IMPACT 4 Life is a campus club dedicated to reducing secondhand exposure to the campus community. It
is supported by a staff member at the local chapter of the American Lung Association. The Club’s advisor is a Public
Health Professor from Fresno State. The group is also a member of the ATODSC. Project IMPACT members have
been collecting surveys for a petition to make Fresno State a 100% smoke free campus. They have also tabled
several events on campus to educate students, staff, and faculty about the dangers of smoking and secondhand
smoke, encouraged quitting smoking, and has conducted several cigarette butt clean-ups. In addition, the club is
currently organizing a meeting with President Castro, which will take place during the Spring semester 2015. The
IMPACT members will address a lack of enforcement regarding the designated smoking areas, educate the President
regarding electronic cigarettes, and request to make the campus 100% smokefree and include e-cigarettes into the
policy.
IV.

Summary of Campus Activities Related to Prescription Drug Use
According to the results of the National College Health Assessment conducted in 2013 by the Student Health &
Counseling Center, data showed the percentage of students reported taking prescription drugs not prescribed to them
in a twelve month period of time. The percentages of Fresno State students who reported using any of the
prescription drugs noted below are lower than the national reference data.
Type of Prescription
Antidepressants
Erectile Dysfunction Drugs
Pain Killers
Sedatives
Stimulants
Percentage
(Fresno State Data)
2.3%
.1%
5.8%
.9%
1.6%
Reference Group
(National Data)
3.1%
1.0%
7.6%
4.2%
7.8%

At the Student Health & Counseling Center, the Pharmacist in Charge continues monitors prescriptions for falsification
or alterations, observes for potential “doctor shopping” and notes whether the student has been seen by one provider
or multiple providers and receiving an excess amount of controlled medications. He counsels students on how to take
medication appropriately and uses resources such as the CURES program to identify misuse.
o If a pharmacist or provider staff suspects a student is abusing prescription medications or inappropriate
prescribing is taking place the Medical Chief of Staff or administrator is notified immediately. An ad hoc
“Patient Care Committee” is assembled and the case is discussed. A care plan is developed; the student is
notified by the appropriate person which may be the Medical Chief of staff, a provider or an administrator of
the plan of care. A notation is made in the electronic medical record so that all providers are aware that
controlled substances are not to be prescribed for this student.

Lock It Up Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Project
o Has been collaborating with Fresno State’s ATODSC and Health Promotion & Wellness Services to prevent
and raise awareness regarding prescription drug use and misuse on campus. This program is part of the
California Health Collaborative and is funded through the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health,
Substance Abuse Services to serve the Fresno State campus. Lock It Up staff continued to collaborate with
Fresno State to plan and implement large scale events to educate Fresno State students on the dangers and
consequences of prescription drug abuse including events in honor of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness
Week and spring break safety.
o Partnered with the College of Health and Human Services to put on annual “Thrills Without Pills” events which
are town hall meetings organized by Fresno State students with the purpose to educate their college
community about the dangers and consequences of prescription drug abuse and proper disposal of
prescription medication.
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o
o
o
o
o
Became part of Health PAWS presents… program and offered educational presentations to classrooms
whereby a total of 646 students received information about the dangers of prescription drug abuse,
emerging trends, risks and consequences and proper disposal.
A total of 32 Fresno State students from all grades, majors and interest became peer educators hosting
educational presentations, in-service trainings, tabling events, and created public service announcements
both on campus and for the community at large.
Collaborated with Fresno State’s CAMP program, providing educational presentations over the summer for
high school students entering Fresno State in the fall. Students participated in interactive activities learning
about refusal skills, ways to say no to pressured situations, dangers and consequences of prescription drug
abuse and importance of proper disposal. A total of 79 students were educated.
In a community effort to reduce access to un-sued/expired prescription medication and to reduce the abuse
of prescription medication among youth in Fresno County, Fresno State campus police participated by hosting
and managing a disposal unit for the collection of prescription medication. The unit was in operation for
about two years. Due to miss-use of the box and lack of resources to maintain the box, campus police
decided to permanently remove the box in the fall of 2014. Although the box is no longer in operation,
campus police continues to support Lock It Up Project efforts. Most recently, campus police representative sat
on a board of panelist for Lock It Up Project Peer Education Program in-service training held on November
21, 2014. This event reached an estimated 28 Fresno State students and community partners.
Participated in four community service opportunity fair’s during calendar year 2013-2014 reaching out to a
total of 1,150 Fresno State students with information on Lock It Up Project services and opportunities for
volunteer/community service projects. Many peer educators were recruited through these events as well as
other students looking to complete community service projects.
V.
Assessment Activity
 Since its inception in the Fall of 2013, the WATCHDOG program has included an assessment component.
Description of Assessment
Data has been collected on all
200 student WATCHDOG
training participants from the
Fall of 2013 through the Fall of
2014. All trainees completed a
training evaluation at the end
of the training and at the end
of the semester. Training
evaluation was based on other
intervention program
evaluation tools and was
specifically designed to assess
the four learning objectives of
the training program. Data was
also collected for program
improvement.
Methodology
About the participants: Approximately 44% of
the participants were a member of a student
club on campus, 7% were student athletes
and 22% were members of Greek life.
Approximately 73% of the participants were
female and 27% were male. Class level
ranged with representation from Freshman to
Graduate level with the largest groups of
Junior and Senior.
About the measures: Student participants
were provided with a paper copy of the
training evaluation that was later consolidated,
at first by hand then later using Survey
Monkey, and entered manually after the
training. The evaluation had them rate their
level of satisfaction with each portion of the
training as well as overall, how they heard
about the training and the reason they choose
to attend. They were also asked questions to
determine if the learning objectives (correctly
identify: three safe drinking practices, two
consequences/risks of alcohol overdose, the
eight signs of alcohol overdose, the three
steps of the campus good Samaritan policy)
were achieved. At the end of semester a
follow-up report was sent to assess how they
had used their skills and assess retention of
training lessons using the Fresno State
Qualtrics system. The follow-up had students
report the portion of the training they had
used the most, if they had worn their
Results
A majority (approximately 98%) of the
students reported being satisfied or
very satisfied, overall, with the
WATCHDOG training. In regards to the
first two learning objectives assessed
at the training’s end, approximately
94% correctly identified three safe
drinking behaviors and approximately
71% correctly identified two
consequences of alcohol overdose.
This objective was re-emphasized each
semester so that there was a notable
rise in accuracy from 53% to 71% and
finally 90% this last semester. In
regards to the last two learning
objectives, assessed at the training’s
end, approximately 94% correctly
identified the eight signs of alcohol
overdose and approximately 60%
correctly identified the three steps in
the campus Good Samaritan policy.
The campus policy was re-emphasized
each semester so that there was a
notable rise in accuracy from 37% to
70% and finally 74% this last
semester. Thirty-nine students
completed the end of semester report.
Results from the Fall 2014 semester
are still being collected. In regards to
the learning objectives, 94% correctly
identified at least three safe drinking
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WATCHDOG t-shirts on campus and at parties,
how their perceptions had changed, retention
of learning objective messages, increase in
confidence to intervene and if and how they
had intervened and if not, why.
VI.

Highlights of Other Special and Unique Programs
eCHECKUP TO GO alcohol survey was implemented during the summers of 2013 and 2014 by the Student Health &
Counseling Center. All incoming freshmen and transfer students were given a “soft mandate” to complete the survey
by the end of the first week of the fall semester. The survey implemented in the summer of 2014 witnessed a
significant increase in the number of completed surveys as a result of an emailed link to all new students. Here is a
summary of the results:
Survey Response Rate
Respondent Demographics: Gender
Respondent Demographics: Class Status
Respondent Demographics: Athlete
Respondent Demographics: Residence
Drinking Behavior: Never Had a Drink
Drinking Behavior: % started when underage
Drinking Behavior: Average Age Started Drinking
Drinking Behavior: Average # of Drinks per Month
Drinking Behavior: # of Days Drove Vehicle after Having 3+ Drinks

behaviors, 93% correctly identified the
signs of alcohol overdose, 44%
correctly identified the three step of
the campus Good Samaritan policy.
While not a high percentage, at least
the students are aware a policy exists.
No data on consequences was
collected but the current follow-up
survey has been updated to track this
information. The Alcohol 101 portion
was utilized the most (51%), followed
by Bystander Intervention (25%) and
CPR (22%). Most reported that they
had shared the information with a
friend or classmate or used in a school
or work project. Sixteen reported
using their skills to intervene to help a
friend (emergency or not). The most
common intervention reported was
talking to a friend about alcohol
intake, followed by serving as a
designated driver. Additionally,
students reported monitoring their
friends through the night, hiding keys
or disposing of alcohol. Approximately
75% reported feeling some to a lot
more confident to intervene in an
emergency situation.
Summer 2013
36% (2,394)
N = 6,687
59% female
41% male
57% freshmen
41% transfer
6%
79% off campus
21% on campus
55%
91%
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5
.06
Summer 2014
58% (4,233)
N = 7,250
62% female
38% male
62% freshmen
38% transfer
4%
85% off campus
15% on campus
55%
82%
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Drug & Alcohol Awareness & Wellness Guides (DAAWG), Student Health & Counseling Center
o Since the Fall of 2013, a total of 18 students have been trained as DAAWGs. They make a year-long
commitment to volunteer between 3-5 hours per week and are instrumental in planning and implementing
alcohol programming on campus as well as collaborating with the agencies responsible to provide
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o
o
o

programming related to marijuana, prescription drug and tobacco use. These students donated over 1,300
hours of community service to the DAAWG program. This peer education program is supervised by a Health
Educator with the Student Health & Counseling Center.
The Protect Your ‘Dogs poster and magnet alcohol overdose awareness campaign continued with a refresh of
the design that shows the campus mascot wearing a WATCHDOG t-shirt. This poster makes use of the
Aware Awake Alive MUST HELP acronym. Close to 10,000 magnets and posters have been distributed on and
off campus.
Since Fall 2013, the DAAWGs reached over 1,000 Fresno State students with 45-50 minute Protect Your ‘Dogs
presentations.
The RADD California College DUI Awareness Project was launched in Fall 2014 at Fresno State. So far, the
DAAWG peer educators recruited three local vendors to join the RADD program and provide benefits to
designated drivers who use their eating/drinking establishments.
University Courtyard On-campus Housing
o No alcohol policy changes.
o Conducted surveys through Educational Benchmarking, Inc. of residents’ alcohol and drug use behaviors in
December 2013 and December 2014. Here are the results:
 December 2013
 346 completed the survey (32.7% of all residents)
 How Many Alcohol drinks do you typically consume when you go out and drink?
 I do not drink: 230 (67.1%)
 One or Two Drinks: 59 (17.2%)
 Three or Four Drinks: 29 (8.5%)
 Five or Six Drinks: 14 (4.1%)
 Seven or Eight Drinks:7 (2%)
 More than 8 drinks: 4 (1.2%)
 How frequently do you consume alcohol?
 I do not drink: 222 (64.5%)
 Less than once per week: 90 (26.2%)
 Once per week: 15 (4.4%)
 Two to three times per week: 15 (4.4%)
 Almost every day: 1 (.3%)
 Every Day: 1
 How frequently do you use marijuana?
 I do not use marijuana: 320 (92.8%)
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o
 Less than once per week: 16 (4.6%)
 Once per week: 3 (.9%)
 Two to three times per week: 3 (.9%)
 Almost every day: 1 (.3%)
 Every day: 2 (.6%)
 How frequently do you use other drugs?
 I do not use other drugs: 336 (98%)
 Less than once per week: 2 (.6%)
 Once per week: 1 (.3%)
 Two to three times per week: 0
 Almost every day: 1 (.3%)
 Every day: 3 (.9%)
 What drugs?
 Oxycontin
 Permanent Marker
 Vicodin
 Beggin Strips
 Aspirin/Ibuprofen/Tylenol PM
 Prescription
 Blue dream
 December 2014
 380 completed the survey (34.5% of all residents)
 How Many Alcohol drinks do you typically consume per event?
 I do not consume alcohol: 229 (64.9%)
 One or Two Drinks: 62 (17.6%)
 Three or Four Drinks: 39 (11.1%)
 Five or Six Drinks: 10 (2.8%)
 Seven or Eight Drinks: 6 (1.7%)
 More than 8 drinks: 7 (2%)
 How frequently do you consume alcohol?
 I do not consume alcohol: 224 (63.5%)
 Less than once per week: 94 (26.6%)
 Once per week: 19 (5.4%)
 Two to three times per week: 14 (4.0%)
 Almost every day: 0
 Every Day: 2 (.6%)
 How frequently do you use marijuana?
 Not in the past year: 298 (90.3%)
 2 to 3 times per year: 16 (4.9%)
 Once a month: 4 (1.2%)
 Two to three times per month: 4 (1.2%)
 2 to 3 times per week: 1 (.3%)
 Daily: 6 (1.8%)
Housing alcohol, tobacco and other drug use programs:
 January 2013: One Last Drink Passive program
 January 2013: Booze and Body – 2 residents attended
 February 2013: Water Pong -35 residents attended
 March 2013: Thor Drinking Program – 10 residents attended
 September 2013: rootBeer Floats – 14 residents attended
 September 2013: Alcohol facts spamming courtyard passive program
 September 2013: Drinking Game? Alcohol program – 13 residents attended
 September 2013: Zombie Pong Alcohol program – 17 residents attended
 September 2013: knockout Mocktails – 22 residents attended
 October 2013: Open Doors alcohol program – 31 residents attended
 October 2013: Milk and Cookies – 300 residents attended
 November 2013: Come Play Pong (alcohol program) – 20 residents attended
 March 2014: Heads up, Drugged up – 4 residents attended
 March 2014: Pot Party – 11 residents attended
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 September 2014: Protect Your Dogs alcohol program – 17 residents attended
 September 2014: Thirsty Thursday program – 40 residents attended
 September 2014: Beer pong – 17 residents attended
 October 2014: Milk and Cookies – 200 residents attended
Alcohol & Drug class used for conduct:
 2013, 7 classes were offered, 90 attended
 2014, 8 classes were offered, 77 attended

Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) Trainings
o Representatives from the Fresno State Student Involvement Office continued to offer TIPS training for Fresno
State as a 2.5 hour program that helps students make sound choices when faced with difficult decisions
about alcohol use. TIPS training provides students with the knowledge and confidence necessary to reduce
high-risk drinking behavior among their peers. Throughout the 2013 and 2014 year, they conducted
seventeen presentations and trained 259 people including, but not limited to, Concessions program for the
Alumni Association volunteers to their special events as well as for groups volunteering to serve at the
Vintage Days beer and wine garden.

Call Stay Cooperate Response Action Practice
o An ad-hoc Subcommittee of the ATODSC developed an amnesty policy and guidelines for Fresno State
students when faced with an urgent situation such as an alcohol overdose. Known as the Call.Stay.Cooperate
Response Action Practice, it provides protection to the student caller for revealing information about unsafe
action or conduct on the Fresno State campus. Students are educated about this Responsible Action Practice
during the WATCHDOG trainings as well as by the DAAWG volunteers during their classroom presentations.

New Student Orientation Alcohol Video
o As part of the ATODSC, two representatives from the Fresno State Student Involvement Office created a 7minute video that has been shown as part of a 30-minute presentation on alcohol safety during the summer
of 2013 and 2014. Through the use of a very realistic vignette as well as student testimonials, over 14,000
incoming freshmen, transfer students and their parents/family members were shown this video that begins
their alcohol safety education here at Fresno State. It has been very well received and there are plans to
update this video with footage of interviews with the family and friends of a student who died of alcohol
poisoning at Fresno State in 2012.

Philip Dhanens Memorial Scholarship
o In memory of Philip Dhanens, an eighteen year old Fresno State student who died in 2012 of an alcohol
overdose, a scholarship has been created to allow the opportunity for one Greek Man and one Greek Woman
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to attend the annual CSU Alcohol and Other Drugs Higher Education Conference. Here is the screen shot of
the scholarship details.

Athletics
o The Athletic department continued to be successful in monthly drug testing and enforcement.
 All incoming freshmen and transfer student-athletes are tested as they arrive on campus.
 After they pass a physical, a random selection of 10% of student-athletes from each team on a
monthly basis are tested.
 In addition, any student-athlete who has tested positive on a prior test are tested monthly.
 Any student-athlete that has been identified by reasonable suspicion is tested monthly.
o A portion of enforcement includes a referral and assessment to Avante Behavioral Health. Avante specializes
in assessments of student athletes’ drug or alcohol use and referrals to a provider that will best fit the
student athletes’ needs.
o Made a change to the 2014-2015 Substance Abuse Education and Testing Program with a clarification that
the random test schedule can be followed in the summer.
o Education/Awareness Events:
 During the fall of 2013 the freshmen classes as well as a few additional student athletes completed a
TiPS certified workshop. TiPS certifications empower student athletes to reduce high risk drinking
behavior and help them make smart choices when faced with unruly situations.
 January 2014 a group of one staff member and four student athletes attended the APPLE
Conference.
 In February 2014, Fresno State Athletics contracted with Robert Stutman to put together a
presentation addressing the dangers of underage drinking, alcohol over-consumption, and drug
abuse (prescription and street drugs); as well as their effects on student-athlete performance. Mr.
Stutman covered many areas within these topics, including statistics on drug type use and age
groups, the dangers of prescription drug abuse, as well as long term and short term effects of
substance abuse. A lot of positive feedback was received from student-athletes on this presentation,
particularly the effects on student-athlete performance following substance abuse.
 In the spring of 2014, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) formed & implemented a studentathlete wellness program to address physical, mental, emotional and psychological wellness &
development for our student-athletes; intending to set them on the path to success during and after
college.
 In spring and fall of 2014, student-athletes participated in WATCHDOG training. This program taught
valuable skills such as bystander intervention techniques, CPR and provided additional information on
the dangers of alcohol. The feedback from student-athletes that participated was overwhelmingly
positive.
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

Continuing yearly education includes: NCAA Drug Education video, Nutrition & Performance speaker,
Conduct & Compliance education.
Performing Above the High (PATH) Project
o Has been collaborating with Fresno State’s ATODSC and Health Promotion & Wellness Services to provide
marijuana prevention services to 12-20 year olds. This program is part of the California Health Collaborative
and is funded through the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse Services to
serve the Fresno State campus.
o During the 2013-2015 school years, the PATH Project has hosted or participated in the following activities
exposing hundreds of Fresno State University students to marijuana education and prevention information.
 Assisted in sponsoring and planning events such as the annual National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness
Week events & the annual Spring Break events
 With the support of a Fresno State University Faculty Member, the PATH Project has formed a Young
Adult Advisory Board on Fresno State Campus two consecutive years with the goal of increasing
young adult participation in advocacy and prevention efforts. Students meet monthly and monitor
college related PATH activities, while also receiving peer education training in order to educate their
peers and assist with other prevention efforts taking place on campus. Additionally, youth collect data
on current marijuana use trends on campus and work towards a culminating project that shifts social
norms and discourages marijuana use.
 The iPATH Advisory Board has participated two years in a row in a project during April 20th weekend
(a date known in popular culture as the “National Day to Smoke Marijuana”) to blanket media
venues, including radio and internet with marijuana prevention and substance use prevention
messaging. Year 1 resulted in over 15,000 people in Fresno County targeted with information; Year 2
resulted in over 25,000 people in Fresno County targeted with information. Results were determined
utilizing social media participation statistics.
 Became part of Health PAWS presents… program and offered educational presentations to
classrooms
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